Crafting Fuzzy Cat Ears

Cat ears make adorable accessories that are simple to create. Whether worn as part of a costume or to add a playful touch to your outfit, you can easily fashion them using materials found at most arts and crafts stores. To make furry cat ears, start by crafting the ear bases, assembling the ears, and finishing them off with an elastic band and hot glue.

Sketch the cat ears on paper. This serves as the wire template. Simply draw two wide triangles, experimenting with different sizes to find the best fit for your head. The template, around three inches in size, accounts for the fur's thickness. You can either cut out the template or leave it on the paper as a guide for subsequent steps.

• Consider using a pencil for drawing if you need to redraw the ears multiple times.

Form the cat ears using jewelry wire. Utilizing the paper template, shape the wire into triangular cat ears. Jewelry wire is pliable, but you can employ long nose pliers to aid in shaping. Repeat this process for both ears, resulting in two triangle-shaped ears.

• If jewelry wire is unavailable, paperclips can serve as an alternative. Straighten them out and utilize them as makeshift wire. If they don't form perfect triangles, it's not an issue as it won't affect the final result once inserted into the fur. Use glue to secure the sides temporarily until insertion.
• Opt for thicker jewelry wire to maintain shape integrity when adding fur. A 16 or 18-gauge wire is recommended as it's sturdy yet malleable with pliers.

Cut the faux fur. Using the paper templates, cut out four triangle shapes from the fur. Choose a fur type that appeals to you, such as black, leopard print, or lion-like fur. Faux fur can be acquired at arts and crafts stores. Ensure these are approximately half an inch larger than the template to accommodate the wire triangles securely once stitched.

• Remember, you can always trim excess fur if it's too large, but you can't enlarge it if it's too small.

Stitch the fur together. Align two fur pieces with fur sides facing each other. Sew along each side, leaving the bottom edge unsewn. This opening is where you'll insert the wire to shape the ears. The finished ears should be inside out. Repeat this process to create two ears.

• Keep seam allowance minimal, approximately ¼ inch.
• Choose thread color that blends well with the fur.

Turn the ears inside out to reveal the fur. After sewing, the ears should be inside out with the furry sides facing each other. Now, flip the ears so that the fur is on the outside. The ear shape should be clearly visible. Check for any holes or errors and mend them accordingly.

• If you find any holes, turn the ears inside out and sew them up.
• Use sewing scissors to cut the thread where errors occur. Remove the thread and resew with new thread.

Insert the wire triangle pieces into each ear. Place the wire triangles you previously shaped inside the furry ears. The wire should fit snugly within the fur, neither too loose nor too tight. Adjust the wire if necessary.

Stitch the bottom of the ears. Once the wire triangles are inserted, sew up the open bottom of the ears. Ensure there are no openings left after sewing. The sewing on this part doesn't need to be neat as it won't be visible.

Craft the headband for the ears. Measure the elastic band or ribbon around your head, ensuring it crosses over the top rather than the forehead. These materials are commonly available at arts and crafts stores. Join the ends by sewing or using hot glue to create a circular headband that fits snugly. Alternatively, if using a ribbon, you can opt to tie it at the back for adjustability.

• When sewing, account for seam allowance before cutting the ribbon. Experiment with tying the ribbon around your head to gauge the required length.
• You may also substitute an elastic band or ribbon with a pre-made headband.

Determine ear placement. Hold the headband and ears together to assess the most natural position for the ears. Utilize a mirror to refine the placement. While wearing the headband, mark the spots where the ears will be positioned using a pen or marker.

• Having assistance while marking the headband on your head may facilitate the process.

Secure the ears to the headband. Use hot glue to affix the cat ears onto the headband at the marked positions. Apply just enough glue to ensure the ears remain upright without excess dripping onto other areas of the headband or ribbon. Allow the glue to dry for at least ten minutes.

• If uncomfortable with hot glue, seek assistance from someone experienced.

Inspect the final result. After the glue has dried, try on the ears. Ensure the headband fits securely without slipping, and the ears stand upright. Make any necessary adjustments.

• Paper for making templates
• Scissors
• Thin wire for the ears
• Faux fur (20 cm sq. or 7.9 inches.)
• Elastic ribbon (5-6 cm or about 1 or 2 inches wide) Ensure you have enough to encircle your head and additional ribbon for tying.
• Hot glue
• Needle
• Thread
• Paper
• Marking tool
• Scissors